{"product_id":"sunkist-arborvitae","title":"Sunkist Arborvitae","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Golden-Foliage Arborvitae for Minnesota Color Accent\u003c\/h1\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eSunkist Arborvitae (\u003cem\u003eThuja occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Sunkist') stands out from green arborvitaes with bright golden-yellow foliage that holds color through summer and bronze tones in winter. Reliable to -40°F. The choice when you want color contrast in foundation beds and entry plantings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003ch2\u003eSunkist Arborvitae Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003ctable\u003e\n    \u003ctbody\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eThuja occidentalis\u003c\/em\u003e 'Sunkist'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSunkist Arborvitae\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–10 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–5 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow to moderate — 8–12 inches per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours) for brightest gold color\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTolerates Minnesota clay-loam.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvergreen — bright golden-yellow needles, bronze-tinted in winter\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40°F.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eProtect first 1–2 years.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSpecies native to Minnesota; 'Sunkist' is a golden cultivar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n    \u003c\/table\u003e\n    \u003ch2\u003eSunkist Arborvitae Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003ch3\u003eColor Accent in Foundation Beds\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSunkist's golden foliage creates instant color contrast against dark green companions like Hetz Midget Arborvitae and Boxwood 'Green Velvet'. Use as a single focal point or paired bookends at entries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMixed Conifer Compositions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePair Sunkist with Colorado Blue Spruce cultivars and 'Techny' Arborvitae for a three-color evergreen composition (gold + blue + green) that holds visual interest year-round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Sunkist Arborvitae in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eFall — late August through mid-September — is the ideal planting window for evergreens like Sunkist Arborvitae. Soil is still warm enough for root development, cool air reduces transplant shock, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before the typical mid-November ground freeze in the Twin Cities. The earlier window matters specifically for evergreens because they continue losing moisture through their needles all winter, so root establishment before freeze is critical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eSpring (late April through May, after ground thaw) is the second-best window — you get a full growing season ahead. Avoid summer planting (June–August) when possible; if you must, water heavily and mulch deeply. Never plant after mid-October or before late April, when frozen ground or frost-heaving will kill new roots.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Sunkist Arborvitae\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003col\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, same depth. In heavy clay, dig even wider (3–4x).\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eCheck for clay hardpan — if water pools in the hole, break through the clay layer or mound-plant 2–3 inches above grade to improve drainage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't fill the hole with pure compost — it creates a \"container\" effect that traps water around the roots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eSpacing — 4–5 feet apart for foundation row; 6 feet for individual specimens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eBuild a 3–4 inch water basin around the plant to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove the basin in late October to prevent ice damage over winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eMulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Do NOT use gravel mulch — it doesn't insulate roots in Minnesota winters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ol\u003e\n    \u003ch2\u003eWatering Sunkist Arborvitae in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n    \u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes)\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3–4 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages roughly 3 inches\/month June–August)\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in Twin Cities metro). Continued late-fall watering can push tender new growth that gets killed by winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eOne deep watering in early December is a good idea for evergreens if fall has been dry — it helps the plant resist winter desiccation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n    \u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n    \u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eEstablished Sunkist Arborvitae rarely needs supplemental water. Water deeply during droughts (2+ weeks of no rain combined with temps above 80°F).\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eSoak to 6–8 inches depth, every 7–14 days during dry spells. Let natural rainfall do the rest.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e\n    \u003ch3\u003eDrip Irrigation in Minnesota\u003c\/h3\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003eDrip works well for Sunkist Arborvitae if your beds already have a system. Place emitters 12–18 inches from the trunk. Always blow out lines and shut off the timer by early October — frozen drip lines split.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Sunkist survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — rated to USDA zone 3 (-40°F). Color shifts toward bronze-gold in winter, returning to bright yellow in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill deer eat it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, in winter. Protect first-year plants with snow fence or netting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow fast does it grow?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSlow to moderate — 8–12 inches per year. A 5-gallon plant reaches mature 8–10 ft in 8–12 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it really stay golden?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn full sun, yes — bright golden-yellow all summer. In shade the gold dulls toward green. Plant in 6+ hours of direct sun for best color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n    \u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n    \u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHetz Midget Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — Dark green dwarf globe contrasts with Sunkist's gold.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e'Montgomery' Colorado Blue Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — Blue dwarf form for tri-color foundation compositions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKarl Foerster Grass\u003c\/strong\u003e — Golden seed heads echo Sunkist's color in late summer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLimelight Hydrangea\u003c\/strong\u003e — Lime-green blooms complement Sunkist's golden foliage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#3 Gallon","offer_id":54114189836593,"sku":null,"price":31.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#5 Gallon","offer_id":54114189869361,"sku":null,"price":46.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#7 Gallon","offer_id":54114189902129,"sku":null,"price":78.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#10 Gallon","offer_id":54114189934897,"sku":null,"price":123.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"#20 Gallon","offer_id":54114189967665,"sku":null,"price":205.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"4' BB","offer_id":54114190000433,"sku":null,"price":260.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"5' BB","offer_id":54114190033201,"sku":null,"price":288.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"6' BB","offer_id":54114190065969,"sku":null,"price":315.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/img_21_sunkist-arborvitae.jpg?v=1778046980","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/sunkist-arborvitae","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}